Search bait of choice

What is your search bait of choice on a new lake?

My answer: "Depends on what I see when I study the lake." Will I be fishing
cover or open water? Do I see bait fish or evidence of active feeding? What
are the weather conditions? What is the water visibility? Time of day (or
night)?

Most times, I end up reaching for the rod with a spinnerbait tied on. As
those of you who have fished with me will attest, though, when I think bass
will respond better to a lipless crankbait, I don't hesitate to switch.

I came across an interesting fact in the first of a three-part series by
Dennis Bryant, "Fishing-Professor," at the Bass on Hook site:
http://www.bassonhook.com/zap/zap01.html. (To access parts two and three, in
the URL change "zap01" to "zap02" or "zap03".)

He wrote that some years ago he asked ten pioneers of modern bass
tournaments, "If you were to be limited to using one single lure on a body
of water that you had never fished before, what would it be and why?" Eight
of them said they would choose a spinnerbait. One said a "jig & pig" and one
chose a plastic worm. Then last year, he asked 1,485 pro and amateur
tournament the same question, and still over 80% said "spinnerbait" followed
by jig & pig and then a lipless crank-bait and jerk-bait.

Joe Haubenreich
www.secretweaponlures.com
First real spinnerbait innovation in decades